Big & Little Ink!

 

Received some cool news this weekend! My prints were accepted in the Little Ink exhibition that is happening in tandem with the Big Ink event at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center! Big Ink was founded in 2012 with the goal to increase appreciation for woodblock printmaking, "one impression at a time". 

Artists from the local community will gather at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center to use The Big Tuna, a giant mobile printmaking press, to create large-scale relief prints. The event is open for the public to attend and observe the printing process. BIG INK LLC, an art education company based in New England, is collaborating with Pyramid for the fourth time to organize this demonstration of fine-art printing. The event is free and open to all ages on October 14 and 15, 11 AM - 4 PM. 

Little Ink is a small works exhibition of relief prints 6"x6" or smaller. There were over 250 pieces submitted and three of mine were chosen to be included the show. The Little Ink reception is October 13th, so if you happen to be in the Hyattsville, MD area that evening it would be great to see you. 

Surveillance    2023  

Developing an Inquiry

Developing a thoughtful research topic has been tough, not because I could not think of worthy topic, rather I currently have a one track mind. I want to expand the idea of the November election and voting by mail. However, it is as if my mind is stuck on that loop. I finished reading On Tryanny, which contributes to the drive to make artwork to promote voting, it is my own personal call to action in this time of such pain and social unrest. Does voting really have the power to change our current vernacular? 

Today I also prepped the chemicals for Cyanotypes, they will be ready for use tomorrow.  I perused digital imagery from my photos that would be appropriate for the media, and printed 8x11 digital negatives. I chose these images, the top left a portrait of whimsical spirit animals on a platform where confederate statues once were. (General's Stonewall Jackson & Robert E. Lee) Although that was taken off the platform in 2017, very relevant given the statues being torn down in these last two weeks. The far right is a train track in Richmond, and the bottom most left are two of the large murals the city is famous for. I will also explore organic finds in my yard,  botanicals make for such rich cyanotyopes.

The linoleum block is a little trickier, I do not want to be so literal, however currently all I seem to see when I look at it is a mailing envelope, text stating the obvious or gears and patterns. I want to explore the gears and patterns more, as a metaphor for the system of democracy. I think as I am working with Cyanotypes and revisiting my gelli prints a more concrete design will emerge. I am intrigued with the life and artwork of Deborah Kass, and was definitely immediately engaged in this article that came out yesterday in Hyperallergic. She is ironic, sarcastic and timely. Kass's work invites challenging conversations. Her acknowledgement of power, who has it, and who deserves it? 

Printmaking in the sun room

So, today I set up in the sun room for printmaking. I walked inside for just a minute and Molly (my cat) decided I needed a studio assistant. She was so curious, sniffing everything and batting at the the tubes of paint. I have a feather I like to use in my prints  and she found it immediately and started playing with it. 

 Today I was just getting reacquainted with gelli (gelatin) printing. It has a been a little bit since I have explored the medium. I used stencils, some I made and others I had from previous art endeavors. Old photos are great to use as stencil paper, it is durable and up for the reuse. 

Earlier this week I picked up several Priority Mail stickers from the post office. These will make for excellent smaller prints and could serve as additional layers to other prints. I also printed on mailing envelopes, that I will eventually send off through the mail. 

After a few hours working and experimenting my assistant decided it was time to clean up. I will put it away for tonight and look at all the work with fresh eye tomorrow.

Making Art & Sheltering in Place

Making art while sheltering in place has grown into an opportunity to push boundaries, coerce a pragmatic approach to making art by "making it work" accepting that creatively solving design problems with the readily available tool rather than the perfect tool.

A sewing needle is a great alternative if you do not have an awl. Rulers or ID cards are an alternative to a bone folder.

The isolation has ignited a freedom to make changes that otherwise would not have presented themselves. My summer goal is to create a prolific studio space and to document the process of what making art entails. The documentation will also serve as digital resources for other art teachers. 

Now more that ever art is a catalyst to promoting change. These last two weeks have illuminated, actually ignited a desperate need for change. Artists that fuel their craft with activism are often the mirror reflecting our times.

The research will begin with reading On Tyranny an hors d'ourve to my inquiry.The nation is preparing for an election in November and voting will be more important than ever. Mail in ballots have been a source of discussion as a result of the pandemic. The US Postal Service finds itself in a precarious spot, and I want to learn more about absentee voting and the mail in ballot system, so that is where I will launch my probe. 

The cover is paper that I marbled and has been just waiting for the right book to cover.